IPL 2018: Probable Opening pairs from each team

There's hardly a month left for the world's most popular domestic T20 league to begin. This year's IPL is going to be a blockbuster as it marks the return of Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals after both of them served a ban of two years.

In each and every game it is important that the team should get a steady start and it lies in the hands of openers. Thus, each team will be looking to get an effective opening pair.

Let's look into the opening pairs which each franchise can select for this edition of the IPL.

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#1 Royal Challengers Bangalore

Brendon McCullum

The 36-year-old still has the capability of hitting big shots

Even though McCullum is 36 years old, but still his hard-hitting batting skills haven't lost. He will be adding his experience to the entire line up and will be up to provide the team with a steady start.

McCullum has a T20I experience of 71 matches and scored 2140 runs at an exceptional average of 35.67.

He was the first batsman to hit two centuries in T20Is. McCullum also captained the Brisbane Heat team in the Big Bash league.

The former New Zealand batsman also has an impressive IPL career. He has played 103 matches and scored 2753 runs at a phenomenal strike rate of 131.22. McCullum was the first player to hit a century in this league.

Manan Vohra

Vohra will be up to continue his astounding form in IPL

Vohra has been a player who hasn't given many promising performances in the first class cricket but when it comes to IPL he seems to be altogether a very different player. This is the only reason RCB bought him for 1.10 Cr.

He has been one of the main performers for the Kings XI Punjab in the previous seasons. He has played 45 matches in his IPL career and scored 957 runs at an impressive strike rate of 132.73.

If we talk about the last edition, Vohra displayed a good performance from his bat by scoring 229 runs in the 11 matches at a phenomenal strike rate of 144.02 which consists of one half-century.

Vohra will be up to represent a new team this time around. However, his aim would be the same to provide a steady start to the team and convert his starts into big runs.

#2 Chennai Super Kings

Murali Vijay

Vijay will be up for an another intriguing performance

Vijay has been a player who has shown exemplary performances in the IPL for CSK and KXIP in the past season.

Although Vijay is regarded as a Test match player, one is very well-aware about his capabilities in the limited overs cricket.

He has played 100 matches in his IPL Career and scored 2511 runs at a decent strike rate of 123.39. He also has two hundreds in the IPL.

Looking into his previous performances, Vijay shall be one of the openers for the Super Kings and would be up to provide a steady start to the team.

Shane Watson

Watson's experience will be up for altogether a new team

Watson has been one of the best all-rounders in the T20 cricket. Along with his great capabilities in bowling in the death overs, he is also known to provide a strong start to the team while opening the innings.

Watson has played 58 T20Is and scored 1462 runs at a phenomenal strike rate of 145.33. Apart from this, he has also scored a hundred in the T20I.

Watson also has some impressive statistics in his IPL Career where he was a vital cog for the Rajasthan Royals. He has played 102 matches in his IPL Career and scored 2622 runs at a strike rate of 138.66.

Both Watson and Vijay have an experience of over 100 IPL matches and their experience will help the Chennai Super Kings to get off to a good start in the innings.

#3 Mumbai Indians

Evin Lewis

Lewis will be looking to leave his mark in the IPL

Evan Lewis would be the best choice to open up for Mumbai Indians looking at his current form.

He has played 14 T20Is in his career and scored 468 runs at a phenomenal strike rate of 154.97. He is also one of those batsmen who has scored two or more hundreds in T20Is.

Lewis came into limelight when he smashed a 48-ball hundred against India in only his second T20I and went on to be the Man of the Match in Windies narrow one-run win.

The capabilities of Sharma and Lewis is unquestionable in T20Is and they can prove to be one of the best opening pairs in the entire IPL history.

Ishan Kishan

Kishan can be a good option to open along with Lewis looking onto his exemplary form

One would definitely be in a state of doubt that why did I prefer Kishan over Rohit Sharma to open along with Lewis.

As we know Sharma has been a bit struggling as an opener in the ongoing games. We saw him struggling in the South Africa tour as well as in the Nidahas Trophy.

On the other hand, Kishan has been in a fantastic form in the List A cricket where he has scored 717 runs in his 21 matches at an impressive average of 35.85. This was the reason he was bought for a whopping price of 6.20 Cr.

Sharma's performance may improve if he bats at No.3. Mumbai Indians can try this combination for few games and if the results are not satisfactory then the changes can be made accordingly.

But for now, I believe Kishan is a better choice to open the innings because of his exemplary form.

#4 Delhi Daredevils

Gautam Gambhir

Gambhir will be looking forward to from the front

Being the captain of the side it is quite obvious that he will be opening the innings. With an experience of 148 IPL matches, he has scored 4132 runs at an exceptional average of 31.78.

Gambhir has also captained the team of Kolkata Knight Riders and lead them to the coveted title twice in 2012 and 2014 respectively.

His effective on-field tactics uplift the entire team. Gambhir is also known to give steady starts to his team and make big scores.

Having Gambhir as an opener and a captain in the team will definitely boost up the entire team and will make the top order stronger.

Colin Munro

Munro's hard-hitting will be a treat to the spectators

Whenever we talk about hard hitting batsmen, Colin Munro is usually found at the top of the list.

The Kiwi batsman was the first cricketer to hit three centuries in the T20I cricket. He has played 45 T20Is in his career and scored 1173 runs at an astounding strike rate of 163.59.

Munro was adjudged with the man of the series in the recent T20I series against West Indies. He scored 223 runs at a strike rate of 197.34.

His recent form is a plus point for the Daredevils. Munro's hard-hitting performances are awaited by the entire team and the spectators.

He is undoubtedly the best top order batsmen which any of the teams could witness. Munro along with Gambhir can prove to be an indestructible opening pair in the season.

#5 Rajasthan Royals

Ajinkya Rahane

Rahane is back with the Royals in this edition

Rahane was a big contributor for the Royals in their IPL history.

He is not only known for being a disciplined batsman but is also known to provide a decent start to the team. He is also the only player in the IPL history to hit six 4s in an over.

Rahane has played 111 matches in his IPL Career and scored 3057 runs at a good average of 33.59. He has also scored a century in his IPL career.

Being a member of the core team of the Royals, Rahane would be expected to give a steady start to his team and convert his scores into big ones.

Rahul Tripathi

Rahul Tripathi scored with a strike rate of 146.44 in IPL 2017

Rahul Tripathi was bought for Rs. 3.4 crores by Rajasthan Royals. He is the best choice to open along with Rahane looking onto his promising performances in the last edition.

He played for Rising Pune Supergiant in the last season. He came into the limelight when he played a match-winning knock of 93 off 52 balls against Kolkata Knight Riders.

He scored 391 runs in the 14 matches he played at an impressive strike rate of 146.44. He proved himself as an effective top-order batsman for the team.

Tripathi would be looking forward to playing for a new team and provide strong starts to the Royals. He would also be looking forward to convert his good starts into big scores.

#6 Sunrisers Hyderabad

David Warner

Warner has been a constant threat for bowlers in the IPL

Warner has been one of the indestructible batsmen Australia have ever witnessed. Being the captain of the side, he will be looking forward to win the title for the second time. Warner has been a threat for all the world-class bowlers.

He has played 70 T20I matches and scored 1792 runs at an exceptional strike rate of 140.11. He also captained the Australian team in the Trans-Tasman Tri Series and ended their campaign as the champions.

Warner also has some impressive statistics in his IPL Career. He has played 114 IPL matches and scored 4014 runs at an intriguing strike rate of 142.14.

He also has three IPL centuries in his bag. Warner would be up to provide a strong start to the team and take them into a respectable position.

Shikhar Dhawan

Dhawan has been in good form recently

Dhawan is having a rock and roll performance in the ongoing Nidahas Trophy. He is undoubtedly in an exemplary form and showing up good results in his recent performances. Dhawan's impressive performance in South Africa gave him the opportunity to become the vice captain in the Nidahas Trophy.

Dhawan has played 35 T20Is in his career and scored 874 runs at a good strike rate of 129.34. Dhawan has immensely contributed for the SRH in the past seasons. He has scored 3561 runs in his 127 IPL matches at a decent average of 32.67.

Both Dhawan and Warner have an experience of more than 100 IPL matches and they also opened the SRH side in the last season. Thus, the team is already having an upper hand in the tournament by having two phenomenal openers in their team.

#7 Kings XI Punjab

Chris Gayle

Gayle will be up to entertain the spectators with his thunderous performance

If anyone wants to see raining sixes in a match, Gayle would do the job for you. The biggest hard hitting batsmen the world has ever witnessed will be up to represent a new team.

If, you think I've overreacted let's go through the statistics of Gayle's T20 career.

Gayle has played 55 T20Is in his career and scored 1589 runs at a phenomenal strike rate of 145.11.

His credibility automatically increases when it comes to IPL. He has played 101 IPL matches and scored 3626 runs at a thunderous strike rate of 151.21.

Gayle has immensely contributed for the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the past seasons. He has five IPL centuries under his bag.

Furthermore, how can one forget his knock of 175 runs against Rising Pune Supergiants. Gayle would be looking forward to add some more centuries under his bag and entertain all the spectators by his performance.

KL Rahul

Rahul was bought for a whopping price of 11 Cr

Rahul was bought for a whopping price of Rs.11 Cr by the Kings XI Punjab. The reason why he has so much value is due to his capabilities to give a strong start to the team.

Rahul has played 14 T20Is in his career and scored 476 runs at an emphatic average of 47.6 and strike rate of 145.67.

He is one of those Indian batsmen who have a T20I century. Rahul also has decent IPL statistics. He has played 39 matches and scored 725 runs which comprise of four half-centuries.

Gayle and Rahul can prove to be a great opening pair for Punjab in this edition. Their capabilities to give a strong start to the team is unquestionable and they would have to play a big role to take Punjab to their maiden IPL title.

#8 Kolkata Knight Riders

Chris Lynn

Lynn is currently recovering with a calf injury

Lynn's participation in this year's edition is uncertain due to his calf injury. However, as the team officials haven't given any confirmation for the same, we shall take him into consideration.

His immense contribution to the Knight Riders forced them to but him for 9.60 Cr in the auction.

He is a well built, hard-hitting batsman who has played 10 T20Is and scored 158 runs at an exceptional strike rate of 137.39.

He came into the limelight while playing for KKR in the last season. He scored 384 runs in the 12 matches he played at a thunderous strike rate of 158.02.

KKR would be hoping that Lynn would recover from his injury before the IPL starts because his absence can have a great impact on the entire team.

Sunil Narine

Narine scored with a strike rate of 172.30 in the last edition

Yes, you read it right. I wouldn't have also believed it but if you had seen Narine's batting in the last season, you would not be surprised by reading his name.

Narine who is a spinner shocked everyone while giving few exemplary performances as an opener for the Knight Riders in the last season.

He scored 224 runs in his 16 matches at a thunderous strike rate of 172.30. He was also successful in hitting a half-century in the last season.

Lynn and Narine would be the best opening pair looking at their squad. Both of them are extremely hard hitters of the ball and can give a strong start to the Knight Riders by making full use of the power-play overs.